Usability Testing for your UI presented by Amanda Lange

TLDR: You can make your software better with just a little testing.

When should you test? You should test throughout your process. Start with a sketch on paper. Show it to a couple people. Next, prepare a mock-up. This should not be in color- black and white with high contrast. Then you start adding small modifications at a time: color, fonts, etc. Keep testing along the way. You can start by testing with friends and coworkers but, as you get later in the process, you should incorporate your audience in the tests.

How should you test? 

Use the Tiny Usability Test:

1. ID the users and their goals. Be specific- create a persona. This will help you create empathy with your user. 

2. Create tasks that address those goals. What are the most important things to do with your product? Test them. How are your personas going to interact with these features? 

3. Get the right people to test. Where can you find them? Co-workers. Friends and family. Hit the streets- guerrilla. Use a recruiter. Place an ad. 

4. Watch them interact with it. Give written-out tasks to your test user. Have them give you a play-by-play of everything they are doing and why.